Historiska & politiska biografier

From the ranks of Hitler's select few grew the SS, a modern praetorian guard which developed into a massive and efficient military-style force with tentacles spreading into all elements of German life. Hitler appointed leaders upon whom he could rely. Many names remain obscure, but this large book highlights who they all were and how they appeared.

In the early hours of 10 May 1940, HitlerâEUR(TM)s armed forces launched their invasion of France and the Low Countries. Shattering the tense peace of the Phoney War, German troops poured west over the borders of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, supported throughout by the Luftwaffe. Having been deployed to the Continent on the outbreak of war in 1939, the aircrew of the RAFâEUR(TM)s Advanced Air Striking Force had long trained and planned for, as well as anticipated, such a moment. Consequently, at 17.15 hours on that fateful Friday Flight Lieutenant William Simpson took off at the controls of his 12 Squadron Fairey Battle having been ordered to attack enemy transport advancing near the town of Junglinster, some ten miles from Luxembourg. It would prove to be SimpsonâEUR(TM)s only offensive sortie of the Second World War. As they rained their bombs down on the German column, Simpson and his crew were met by a ferocious hail of anti-aircraft fire. They pressed home the attack, scoring four direct hits on the enemy. Their Battle, however, was badly damaged and owing to a leak in the petrol tank Simpson was forced to make an emergency landing. As the Battle slewed to a halt, the cockpit quickly became enveloped in flames. Initially trapped in his seat, Simpson was rescued from the inferno by his two crew, his hands and face severely burnt. Initially helped to a nearby convent by Belgian peasants, Simpson was taken by ambulance back into France and handed over to French Army doctors at a casualty clearing station. At first it was not expected that Simpson would survive his wounds. Both of his eyelids had been burnt off, his nose was virtually destroyed, his eyes swollen and battered, and those of his fingers that remained had been reduced to charred talons. But against all odds, Simpson refused to give in to his shocking injuries. Over the next year-and-a-half, he endured treatment in no less seven French hospitals in both the Occupied and Unoccupied zones of France. Eventually the German and Vichy French authorities agreed to SimpsonâEUR(TM)s repatriation on medical grounds. His passage home, which involved him travelling through France, Spain and Portugal, finally began on 10 October 1941\. Back in Britain, Simpson soon found himself in the hands of the renowned plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe. The operations that followed over the next two years helped rebuild his shattered body. In _One of Our PilotâEUR(TM)s Is Safe_, Simpson graphically reveals his moving journey from operational pilot in the Battle of France to membership of the famous Guinea Pig Club.

The invention by Whittle of the turbo-jet engine, and the determined effort to design, develop and demonstrate that such a novel new method of propulsion would replace piston engines in the air, was one of the most important technical achievements of the twentieth century. That one man accomplished this working with a small but dedicated team of engineers and craftsman in the middle of a war, and in the face of many doubters, was a truly monumental achievement. The jet engine envisaged by Frank Whittle, a young Royal Air Force cadet, changed aviation forever. It was an invention that has, in the years since, had the effect of shrinking the world we live in. We think nothing today of flying between continents in a few hours, when just a two or three generations ago this would have been a major expedition. In short, the jet engine, developed with great tenacity by Whittle, has made the world a village, and has introduced world-wide travel to ordinary people everywhere. This accomplishment was all the more remarkable given WhittleâEUR(TM)s humble background as the son of a highly skilled but largely uneducated mechanic and machinist. A young man from a working-class family, Frank Whittle wanted to become a pilot, but he was denied admission into the RAF due to his physical limitations. Nevertheless, he persisted until finally he was accepted on an air mechanicâEUR(TM)s (or fitterâEUR(TM)s) apprenticeship at RAF Cranwell. It was a course which was primarily used to train officer cadets. Cranwell included a flying training school and it was WhittleâEUR(TM)s secret hope that he may be one step closer to achieving his aim of learning to fly. The air mechanicâEUR(TM)s apprenticeship was a three-year course aimed at providing a thorough practical understanding of all aircraft structural components as well as a detailed knowledge of the different types of aircraft engines then in use. He was a diligent apprentice, and happily threw himself into every aspect of the rigorous training provided, while at the same time keeping an eye on the officer cadets on the flying courses. Inspired by his training, Frank Whittle developed an idea. He believed it was possible for aircraft to fly faster and higher âEUR" and he turned his vision into reality. This incredible accomplishment was not without considerable personal cost though, as Whittle had to face the realities of war, as well as personal and commercial issues that nearly turned his dream into a nightmare. In addition, this biography, written by someone who met Frank Whittle, includes details of his rather colourful personal life, which have not been previously documented.

Under cloudless blue skies, the Oakwood Cemetery Annex in Montgomery, Alabama hosts the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the United States. Most of the graves contain young RAF trainee pilots killed during their flying training at nearby Maxwell and Gunter airfields during the Second World War. However, there is another grave, located at the edge of the plot, not from the early 1940s but, from 1954\. The grave marks the final resting place of a 44-year-old senior RAF officer, Air Commodore Geoffrey Stephenson CBE. It begs the questions who was he and why is he buried there?This book sets out to answer both these questions. As a result, this is the remarkable story of not only StephensonâEUR(TM)s life but the people, planes and places that would leave an indelible mark on a seasoned fighter pilot. After growing up in Lincolnshire and Ireland, 18-year-old Stephenson joined the RAF in 1928 alongside Douglas Bader who would become a life-long friend. After leaving Cranwell, the pair both joined 23 Squadron. In the 1930s, Stephenson rose through the ranks to command 19 Squadron, a Duxford-based Spitfire unit, that would see his baptism of fire over Dunkirk in late May 1940\. Following the downing of a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, Stephenson was himself shot down and crash landed on the beach at Sangatte. After a brief period on the run in France and Belgium, Stephenson was taken into captivity, spending the next five years as a prisoner of war, ending up at the iconic Colditz Castle where, ironically, he was reunited with his old friend Bader. Upon his release in April 1945, Stephenson quickly resumed his RAF career commanding, instructing, and flying the latest jet fighters, both at home and overseas. He was aide-de-camp to two monarchs, including escorting a young Queen Elizabeth II during her 1953 Coronation Review. However, his already eventful career would take a tragic turn. In 1954, Stephenson flew to the United States to review their latest acquisitions, which included a flight in the supersonic F-100 Super Sabre. It would be his last flight. Nevertheless, StephensonâEUR(TM)s legacy lives on at his former base at Duxford in the guise of the Imperial War MuseumâEUR(TM)s immaculately restored Spitfire Mk.I N3200\. This was the very aircraft in which he force-landed on 26 May 1940\. Recovered from the French beach, N3200 was painstakingly rebuilt and returned to flying condition. Today, N3200 is often referred to as a âEUR¿National TreasureâEUR(TM). This is the biography of a remarkable pilot, husband and father, revealing the planes he flew, the places he visited, and the incredible people he met along the way.

Fred Harris is the last surviving member of the Kerner Rights Commission, famously created by President Lyndon Johnson following the terrible riots, disorders, and violent protests that exploded in so many of America's cities in the "long hot summer" of 1967. He is the last survivor of the 1964 "Four Back Bench US Senators," which consisted of Walter Mondale of Minnesota, Joseph Tydings of Maryland, Fred Harris of Oklahoma, and Robert Kennedy of New York. He is also the senior surviving former member of the US Senate and one of two "last surviving" Democratic presidential candidates to run in 1976--the other being President Jimmy Carter Jr.Report from a Last Survivor tells Fred Harris's many stories: some serious, some funny, and all true. Each story forms a part of this report of a last survivor, a long look back over ninety-three years and counting of a rich life of public service and personal commitment.

Rugby and Rationing explores Sarah Anderson's genealogical findings from pre World War Two to the early 1960s from her father's letters and diary entries. The book explores the thoughts and concerns of an ordinary, middle class, hardworking English family.

Colm Tóibín's personal account of encountering James Baldwin's work, published in Baldwin's centenary year. Acclaimed Irish novelist Colm Tóibín first read James Baldwin just after turning eighteen. He had completed his first year at an Irish university and was struggling to free himself from a religious upbringing. He had even considered entering a seminary and was searching for literature that would offer illumination and insight. Inspired by the novel Go Tell It on the Mountain, Tóibín found a writer who would be a lifelong companion and exemplar. Tóibín appreciates Baldwin, writer to writer: Baldwin was interested in the hidden and dramatic areas in his own being, and was prepared as a writer to explore difficult truths about his own private life. In his fiction, he had to battle for the right of his protagonists to choose or influence their destinies. He knew about guilt and rage and bitter privacies in a way that few of his White novelist contemporaries did. And this was not simply because he was Black and homosexual; the difference arose from the very nature of his talent, from the texture of his sensibility. "All art," he wrote, "is a kind of confession, more or less oblique. All artists, if they are to survive, are forced, at last, to tell the whole story, to vomit the anguish up." On James Baldwin is a magnificent contemporary author's tribute to one of his most consequential literary progenitors.

Fabian Colonial Essays (1945) brings together a host of leading thinkers to discuss different aspects of colonialism. It examines socialism and imperialism, colonial development, economics and colonialism, social services amongst other issues, all through the lens of 1940s British progressive politics.

Dual Legacies in the Contemporary Caribbean (1986) is a comparative and systematic study of the legacies bequeathed by British and French colonial rule in the Caribbean. These essays offer provocative insights and report intriguing parallels between the British and French experiences in the region.

The definitive bibliographical study of the Elizabethan travel writer Richard Hakluyt and his early works.

The first-ever biography of a pioneering nineteenth century doctor-coroner and his inquests, meticulously researched and written in a clear style for non-specialists. For all those interested in Victorian social history, the history of medicine and coronial history.

This book offers a thoroughly researched and detailed account into the formation and development of Na Fianna Éireann in Cork city during the bloody fight for Irish Independence.

Defying an impossible fate, destiny's abruptly rewritten by unimaginable paths. Eerie synchronicity directs a miraculous escape from grips of WWII Europe to America, as skilled artistry quiets chaos in a quest for truth and self-peace.

Ascendant reveals the formative early life, complicated development, tumultuous career and extraordinary successes of one of the most controversial conservative political voices today “The Most Dangerous Political Operative in America,” (Bloomberg News) is also one of the most popular. Stephen K. Bannon, love him or hate him, is the leader of tens of millions of Americans of the “America First” movement also known as the MAGA (Make America Great Again or Trump) patriots. This position makes him a primary target of domestic and international power brokers like the Chinese Communist Party, the World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum, the US intelligence community, the global military/industrial complex, Hollywood and Wall Street. If he’s your philosophical ally, he is an invaluable source of intelligence. If he is your philosophical enemy he is even more so. Beyond the well-funded efforts to annihilate him professionally, death threats are also common for Bannon and his family. Increasingly, violent progressive activists gather outside of his DC home studio in efforts to intimidate guests and discourage advertisers of his top rated show. As the election of 2024 draws closer and the power of MAGA continues to rise, the danger to him personally will only increase. Steven Bannon is a candle burning brightly at both ends. It would be wise to read more deeply into the dim underworld of cultural and political warfare while his light lasts.Ascendant  • presents a revealing characterization of a truly fearless political operative, media producer and one of the most controversial political thought leaders in the world today. • reveals the development and elements of Bannon's unique, some would say “quirky” personality, his self-discipline, focus and success. • shows why his storied rise through the US Navy, Wall Street, Hollywood and Washington DC and his public embrace of Christianity, national populism and the “America First” movement is an inspiration to millions of his loyal followers and anathema to many professional and political enemies. • offers an inspiring message of persistence, drive and unapologetic pro-Americanism in the face of well-financed and determined opposition.

A collection of more than 300 quotes from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: pro wrestling phenom, actor, businessman, and cultural icon, providing a unique look into the mind of one of the most recognizable and influential figures of our era. Part of the In Their Own Words series.This collection of quotes has been curated from Dwayne Johnson’s numerous public statements—interviews, social media posts, television appearances, and more. It’s a comprehensive picture of his legacy as one of the world’s most recognizable and influential celebrities. The quotes in this collection touch on football, wrestling, Hollywood, building a business, heritage, activism, and more. Johnson, a third-generation wrestler, rose to prominence in the late 1990s as one of the most electrifying and charismatic performers in the history of professional wrestling. Debuting in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) as Rocky Maivia, he quickly gained attention for his athleticism, microphone skills, and larger-than-life persona. Embracing the moniker "The Rock," he became a cornerstone of the Attitude Era, and his unparalleled ability to connect with audiences propelled him to multiple WWE Championships. His catchphrases and signature moves became iconic in wrestling lore and garnered mainstream attention beyond the world of wrestling as well. After achieving superstardom in the ring, Johnson transitioned to Hollywood, eventually becoming one of the highest-paid actors in the world and starring in blockbuster films including The Mummy and Jumanji, as well as appearing in DC Comics franchise films and voicing Maui in the Disney hit Moana, a nod to his Samoan heritage that he proudly touts as central to his identity. Beyond acting, he has built a business empire that spans multiple enterprises, including a production company, a premium tequila brand, sportswear, and a digital content platform.Johnson’s entrepreneurial spirit and versatility beyond his entertainment career earned him a nod as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2019. Now, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson: In His Own Words offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world’s most captivating and beloved personas.

Lessons from A Wall Street Legend Turned Secretary of Commerce Before being named President Trump's Secretary of Commerce in 2017, Wilbur Ross had already earned a reputation as the ';King of Bankruptcy' over his 55-year career on Wall Street. Often working on high-profile bankruptcies such as Pan Am and Texaco, Ross helped restructure more than $400 billion in assets, and was named amongBloomberg's50 most influential people in global finance. After coming to Washington, Ross faced equally tough challenges, yet survived in his post for all four years.Risks and Rewards: Creating Success in Business and Lifeexplains how Ross got to the top and stayed there. Rising from humble beginnings in North Bergen, New Jersey, Ross applied simple principles with strict disciplinesomething readers can apply in their own quest for success. Ultimately, Ross's strategies and dealmaking skills led to relationships with King Charles, Warren Buffett, Carl Icahn, the Rothschild family, Steve Wynn, Lakshmi Mittal, Mike Milken, and many other famous personalities. Ross also documents his experiences with President Trump in the Oval Office. Whether you're interested in Ross's experiences as a neighbor of John Lennon in the legendary Dakota apartment building, celebrating with Sir Richard Branson on his private island, or his tumultuoustime in Washington, you will findRisks and Rewardsto be a candid reflection ofa life lived at the pinnacle of Wall Street, NewYork, and Palm Beach society, and the Trump administration. Above all, anyone driven to find career success will learn from Ross's life the strategies and mentality to achieve it.

A news-driven biography of Vladimir Putin's nemesis Alexey Navalny- lawyer, blogger, anti-corruption crusader, protest organizer, political opposition leader, mayoral and presidential candidate, campaign strategist, provocateur, poisoning victim, dissident, and now, prisoner of conscience and anti-war crusader.

Seven decades ago, a new global order emerged. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the planet, those older ways of being are under unprecedented stress. Already, a new world order is taking shape-one that will put long-standing agenda items like trade, commerce and defence on the backburner. In a post-pandemic world, they will be edged out by issues like climate change, holistic healthcare, education for innovation and creativity, as well as the management of frontier technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain and big data. Human dignity and human rights will be critical issues in this modern reality. To represent the changed actuality of the twenty-first century, global governance needs fresh ideas and novel institutions.More than five decades ago, Deen Dayal Upadhyay articulated a coherent economic philosophy, at the core of which was human-centric development.In The Hindutva Paradigm, author and thinker Ram Madhav provides clarifying insights into the reasoning of a philosopher who has remained an enigma through the decades.

At the height of his fame as a composer, Edward Elgar publicly admitted that his success was owing to the influence of his mother. Copiously illustrated, this is the story of thatinspirational mother, Ann Greening, who gave her son love, security and understanding - the best possible start in life. Despite her poor background and basic education, her interests were wide- ranging - the natural world, literature and chivalry - and she had a strong religious faith and sense of fun. She epitomised the Victorians' enthusiasm for self-improvement, and, in spite of not being musical, she played a crucial role in nurturing her son's genius. Her confidence and enthusiasm for learning enabled Elgar to turn what otherwise might have been seen as a distinct disadvantage in the lack of high-level music education to the creation of his own very individual style.